Lubricating system



Och 1929. F. H. GLEASON LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed June 1 1928 Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES FREDERICK H. GLEASON, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK LUBRICATING SYSTEM.

Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to a new and proved lubricating system'designed part1cuv larly for supplying-lubricant to the chassis bearin s of an automobile or machine bearings w erever desired.

The invention centers around the production of a simplified highly efficient lubricatin apparatus, particularly for supplying lu ricant in measured uantities to a pluralm ity of widely separated earings connected to a single supply line at varied distances along the line from the source of supply.

The invention ermits the use of a comparativel'y small diameter supply line and the 1 ready and exact production of metering or measuring units for supplying predetermined desired quantities of la ricant from a single source to each bearing without regard to its distance from the source of su ply and irrespective of whether similar or ifierent quantities are re uired at the bearing,

Fnrther,'t e invention provides measuring or metering units which control the flow of lubricant to the bearings and which will as operate over long time intervals and pass large volumes of oil over such period wlthout slowing u their flow rate or varying their predetermined desired quantity discharge.

Further, the metering units do not requ1re the inclusion of check valves-to prevent flow of lubricant to the bearings under gravity as the ceramic capillary control members or plugs will not pass oil under gravity;

'Other objects and advanta es relate to the details of the apparatus an the form, construction and arrangement of the parts there of, all as will-more full appear. from thefollowing description. ta en in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view ot a portion of a complete lubricatin apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarge section of a portion of the pump structure andthe filtering me- I i I 1g of the control re 3 is an enlarged section through one or meterin units.

Figure 4 is a section on ine 4-4, Figure 3.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated larg section a portion of a complete lubricatingto system for an automobile or machine arings.-

a gasket -14- ply to bearings must 'ture of refractor elyin 1928. Serial No. 284,597.

ings with metering units connected at various distances from the source of supply to a single supply line for furnishing measured quantities of lubricant to four separate hear- The combined reservoir and pump structure illustrated consists of a reservoir --1- having a cover -2-- provided with the usual filler cap 3-- and oil screen -4-. The cover 2-- is also provided with an elevated inverted cu shape portion -5- through which the piston rod --6- reciprocates and within which'the upper end of the piston cylloosely positioned and uided. The lower'end of cylinder -7- is ormed with an interned annular flange 8- adapted in one position of the cylin or to rest upon the annular gasket -9 formed of soft material, such as leather or vellumoid packing, the flange upon the cylinder acting as a valve while the gasket acts as a valveseat. The gasket'-9-- rests upon the up or surface of an annular fitting -10- w ich may he threaded into the wall of reservoir --1- and is formed with an annular flange surrounding and positioning the gasket -9--. The cupshape fitting 11- may have its upper end a threaded into the interiorly threaded portion of the fitting -10' so as to form within the fitting --11 a settling sediment chamher, and in order to filter the lubricant passing from the reservoir '-1-- to the outlet tubing 12-- there is positioned within the chamber '-13- a large diameter ceramic filter disk '-1 6-- which may be of inverted cup shape form havin its 0 en end resting'upon orme as for instance, of lumoid packing, and the filter is held Y tightly against t e vellumoid gasket by spring 15- to prevent the passage of 011 except through the filter disk 16--so that any oil arriving at the outlet tube 12 for suppass throu h thefilter. These filtering" plugs are ma e of a mixgranular material such as crystalline alumina of suitable size bonded by a mixture oi various vitrifiable clays fired I at ap) ro'ximately 1300 degrees C. or other suita e temperature, to mature the bond to form a body of desired porosity, the degree of porosity being determined b the size of the grains and the relative amount of bond present. Various clays, such as ball clay and slip clay are commonly used as bond ingredients 5 in this industry.

filter and the metering units. These springs have their lower ends abutting against the washer 18 and their u per ends abutting against the elevated cup s ape portion 5- and surround the piston rod 6 within cylinder .-7-.

' Suitable means is provided for effecting elevation of the piston assembl against the action of the springsin the firm of lever 22- pivoted upon shaft 23 mounted on a bracket 24, the curved end 25- of the lever resting underneath the hardened head 26 upon piston rod 6-- so that by depression of the inner end of the lever 22 the piston rod 6- will be elevated, carry ing the piston assembly along with it, and when such movement is initiated, the cylinder 7 being of slightly less axial length than the distance between the inner surface of the upper portion of the elevated part 5 and the gasket 9 the friction of the piston will raise the cylinder 7 until it cotacts with the wall of the elevated part leaving a narrow passageway between flange 8 and the permit inflow of lubricant.

This condition continues to exist during upward movement of the piston assembly. en the piston assembly starts moving downwardly as actuated by s rin s 21, the =frictional stress exerted y t e piston immediately moves cylinder 7 downwardly to bring flange 8 into tight contact with gasket 9 to prevent the return of the oil to the reservoir 1- from cylinder -7-, and thereu on the lubricant is forced from the cylin er through the outlet opening 27 in fitting 10 and throu h the filter disk or member -16- and into t e outlet tube 12 which conveys it to the respective metering units A, B, C and D for supply torespective bearings.

he metering units or capillary resistance controls are generally of similar form and construction, and altho their exact size is not essential, such controls as at present con gasket 9 to structed comprise a metallic body -28 with an external /sth inch pipe thread connection at the bottom. a

An annular chamber formed within the body 28 is provided with a shoulder at 29- and a small hole or conduit 30- is formed at the central portion of the bottom of the body-which is otherwise closed. This hole or passageway is smaller in diameter than any of the controlling vellumoid gaskets 31 about to be described. These vellumoid gaskets are of annular form and may be provided with an opening or hole 32 in their central portion of desired size to determine the proportional amount of lubricant to be supplied to respective bearings.

The annular vellumoid gasket -31- having a central opening 32-.of desired size is assembled within the body 28 in contact with the lower end thereof. A ceramic plug or capillary resistance member 33' is fitted within the chamber in the body .-28, and rests upon the uppersurface of the gas ket 31. hese ceramic capillar members as at resent utilized are cylindrical plugs all of the same size, shape, area, and porosity, and fit somewhat loosely in the chamber in the body 28 and the amount of oil that will be passed through the metering units depends upon the size of the opening in the gasket 31, as these askets determine the exposed area at the ttom of the ceramic resistance member 33, and a gasket having a small hole -32 will provide a slower flow rate than a gasket having a larger hole 32. These holes or openings through the respective gaskets are shown in the drawing as of varied sizes, the capillary resistance control at the extreme right of the drawings having the largest opening -32, While the other openings decrease progressively in size in the control members from ri ht to left of drawing.

In order to hod the ceramic capillary resistance controls in proper tight relation with respective gaskets 3l, there is provided a small circular disk -34 having a drivefit in the body 28-- above the ceramic plug, and the lower edge of this disk is adapted to strike against the shoulder 29 in the body bore to limit the pressure which can be applied to the ceramic lug to hold it oil-tight against the veliumoi gasket. The lower surface of the plug .34- is formed with grooves or oil passages 35 radiating from the central opening -36 to distribute the oil over the surface of the ceramic control member-33.

The plug 34- has provision for the assembly against its upper part of the supply. tube -37 which connects to the outlet tube -12. This connection is effected by means of a tubin nut --38- having a contractual thin edge ormed at the end of the tapered portion -39- and which is contracted by 7 presented downward movement of the tubing nut in contact with the upwardly: tapcringsurface on the disk -3 l as the nut is threaded intothe body 28-, which upwardly tapering to be varied in metering units to provide different flow rates in accordance with the re-:

quirements of the respective bearings.

into the ceramic plug is so slow in comparison to its great surface area will tend to fall into the space between the side wall of the plug and and will not collect against the face of the lug and slow up its flow rate.

flow rate through the metering unit 'is determined by the exposed area at the bottom of the ceramic plug, and that this area is much smaller than the filtering area of the plug ex posed to the enterin oil, and this construction permits the production of a flow. cont-roltime ling plug which will operate over lon intervals and pass large volumes of oi without slowing upits flow rate. p y

As an illustration, these ceramic flow conugwhich is ace is the same in allof the plugs,

the vellumoid' gasket, and the size of which hole is adapted that any sediment line the system will slowly feed to tion.

7 operation of the machine.

pressure at the end The rate of passage of the incoming-oil the bearings only when the motor is in opera- Further,agroup of machines may bepro vided with a lubrication system as disclosed embodying capillary flow controls and all of the group supplied from a single source of oil :under pressure, valves being provided at each individual machine which may be opened or closed-in accordance with operation or non- The very slow rate of feedthrough the ceramic capillary flow members makes possible the use of a very small bore outlet or supply tube 12 with a very small drop in ofthe system.- A th inch diameter tube with a .03 inch wall, hole .065 of an inch diameter, only show .a drop from pounds at the end of the system,

50 feetlong, will pounds to 73 dueto the very slow flow rate of oil through .the tube.

Such a small tube has numerous advantages,

I for instance, it is cheaper, easier and neater to It should be understood that the actual;

install, and is relatively much stronger and more durable when assembled on a machine or chassis.

These filtering plugs are made of a mixture of refractory granular material such as crystalline alumina of suitable size bonded ,a body of desired porosity,

trolling members when supplied with oil under. approximately 100-200 pounds pressure, will feed oil ver slowly (it is possible to limit the passage 0 a single drop over the time interval of a few seconds to 30 minutes).

The will not pass. any oil under gravity hea s and the feed of oil through the .same under four or five pounds pressure is so small that it takes approximately aweek for a single drop to pass. They, therefore, act practically as check valves. when used with oil of ordinary viscosity, and thetubing sysv I- vI claim: of oil between the intervals when pressure is tern delivery line or lines are maintained full applied to the system. tion here disclosed, a special form of pump is shown for delivering oil to the supply line by a mixture of various vitrifiable, clays'fired at approximately 1300 deg. C. or other suitable temperature, to mature the bond to form the degree of porosity being determined by the size of the grains and the relative amount of bond present, Varioufs clays such as ball clay and slip clay are commonly used as bond ingredients in this industr I" Although I. ave shown and described a specific form and constructionof apparatus as constituting an embodiment of the inventi on,.I.do not desire to restrict myself to the details of form, size, construction or arrangep y combination with In the particular embodiment ofthe in venment}, as'various changes and modifications pended claims.-

" may be made within the scope of the apcomprising the n a source of lubricant, of a metering unit/for supplying lubricant to a bearing. comprisinga ceramic capillary mem- L'A lubricating system her through which the lubricant passes.

under pressure, but such disclosure is merely other means may be.

2.; A lubricating system comprising the combination with a source of lubricant, of a metering unit for supplying lubricantto a bearing comprising a ceramic capillary member through which the lubricant passes, and a gasket held against one end of said capillary member and-determining. the exposed outlet area of'said member.

3. A lubricating system comprising a'.

source of lubricant, an outlet tube leading therefrom, a metering unit connected to the outlet tube, said unit comprising a body porceramic capil1 tion, a gasket against one end of the body from in the face of the disk adjacent the portion, a ceramic capillary member having one end in contact with the gasket, and means for holding the ceramic capillary 5 member in contact with the gasket.

4. A dubricating system comprising a source of lubricant, an outlet tube leading therefrom, a metering unit connected to the outlet tube, said unit comprising a body portion, a gasket against one end of the body portion, a ceramic ca illary member having one end in contact wit the gasket, means for holding the ceramic capillary member in contact with the gasket, and means for limiting the movement of said holding means.

" 5. A lubricating ap aratus comprising a source of lubricant un er pressure, an outlet tube for conveying lubricant therefrom; a plurality of meterin devices connected to the :0 outlet tube for supp ying lubricant to respective bearin and each of said metering devices comprising a ceramic capillary member, agasket against one end of 'saidmember and determinin the rate of flow of lubricant to respective arings in accordance with the size oflthe espective openings through the gaskets. 5 r 6. In a lubricating system, the combina- I tion with a source of lubricant under pres- 0 sure, means for filtering the lubricant passing 'om said source including a ceramic memher, an outlet tube for conveying filtered lubricant therefrom, a metering munication with the, outlet tube, said metering unit comprisingabody ortion, a ceramic plugtherein and a gasket etween a portion of the ceramic capillary member and the body 1portion.

I n iilubricating system, the combina- 4o tion with a sourceo lubricant under pres- 'unitincom-' ceramic capillary member.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of June 1928;

FREDERICK sure, means for filtering the lubricant passing from-said sourceincluding a ceramic member,

. an outlet tubefor. conveying filtered lubricant therefrom,-a:metering unit-in communication 5 with the outlet tube, said metering unit comprising a body portion, a ceramic lug there- I -m, a gasket between a portion of t e ceramic fcapil a'-disk adapted" to exert pressure upon the ber to'h'old it in contact'with said gasket; r v

' 28.; In a lubricatinsystem, the combina- I 'tion with {a source oglubricantfunderrpres- -s ure;means for filtering the lubricant passing Q from said source including a ceramic membar-,1 an outlet tube for-conveying filtered lu- I bricant therefro nia' meterin unit incominunication with the outlet tu ,s'aid meterunit'comprising a body portion, a ceramic ary member an -fl {therein a asket between rtion of the ceramic cap the body I [poi-don, and a disk adapted .tdexertpressure ry member to hold it .u nthe'ceramic'ca illa et, eaijddisk having h contactwith sar ry member and the body portion, and

a groove leading there- 

